The C-5 Galaxy can use runways that are 6,000 feet long (1,829 meters), which is an impressive capacity (particularly given its size)
The stunning video in this post actually shows a United States Air Force (USAF) C-5B Galaxy from the 439th Airlift Wing based in Westover Air Reserve Base (AFB) performing a fantastic, screaming short takeoff from Gdansk (Poland) Lech Walesa Airport, runway 29 after delivering US equipment for a military exercise. The aircraft is actually 87-0041 / 127th C5 built.
It is noteworthy that the C-5 can fly on runways that are 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) long, which is an amazing capacity (particularly given its size).
No other airlifter can carry as much as the C-5. It has the capacity to transport 81 soldiers and 36 regular pallets at once. The Galaxy can also handle any air-transportable combat equipment available to the Army, even large objects like the 74-ton mobile scissors bridge. Reduced freight transfer times are achieved by ground crews’ ability to load and unload the C-5 simultaneously at the front and rear cargo slots. The C-5’s other features include:
- Nose and aft doors that open to the full width and height of the cargo compartment to enable quicker and easier loading;
- Five sets of landing gear with a combined total of 28 wheels to disperse weight;
- Full-width drive-on ramps at either end for loading double rows of cars;
- “Kneeling” landing gear that allows lowering the parked aircraft to enable drive-on/drive-off vehicle loading and lowers the cargo floor to a typical truck-bed height;
- A maintenance diagnostics system that reduces maintenance/repair time by collecting and analyzing data from more than 800 (C-5A) and 7000 (C-5M) test points.
Source: U.S. Air Force; Photo by a video screenshot